Singapore and Changi cannot afford to be complacent, and we must «continue to work hard», said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the groundbreaking ceremony of the mega Terminal 5 (T5)  on Wednesday (May 14). The terminal will also house Changi's first transport hub, with the potential for land, air and sea transportation options. Speaking at the event, PM Wong, who is also the Finance Minister said: «Like Singapore, this improbable nation we have, Changi, too, has defied the odds to thrive and succeed beyond all expectations. »We must make a connection to the world, and we must make sure our air hub stays competitive. That's why, today, we are making another bold move in Changi with this groundbreaking." He shared that an estimated 50 million passengers are expected to travel through T5 each year. With the completion of T5, Changi Airport will be able to handle 140 million passengers yearly, boosting its current capacity of 90 million by more than 55 per cent.  The current 170 city links that Changi has is expected to increase to more than 200 with the completion of the new terminal, PM Wong stated.

Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today. 1. Singapore and Changi cannot be complacent, says PM Wong during groundbreaking ceremony of Terminal 5 Singapore and Changi cannot afford to be complacent, and we must «continue to work hard», said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the groundbreaking ceremony of the mega Terminal 5 (T5)  on Wednesday (May 14)... » READ MORE 2. Stray cat in Punggol dies from 'deliberate abuse'; NParks investigating

A man has been arrested for allegedly attacking a parent with a foldable metal chair after a Singapore Youth League (SYL) match on May 11. The police told AsiaOne that they received a call for assistance at 10 Compassvale Lane - which is Sengkang Secondary School - at about 7.15pm on that day. A 51-year-old man was conveyed to Sengkang General Hospital while conscious and a 46-year-old man was arrested for rash act causing hurt. Investigations are ongoing. According to a statement by Albirex Niigata, one of the clubs which played that night, the victim was «assaulted with a foldable metal chair», suffering severe bruising and cuts near his left eye socket as a result. The man, who is the parent of a youth footballer, was taken to hospital and discharged the same night. «We are in close contact with the parent. He is recovering and his vision is improving. The parent has also made a police report immediately after the assault,» said the club.

The National Parks Board (NParks) is investigating a suspected case of animal cruelty in Punggol, following the violent death of a cat last week. A cat was recently found with severe injuries near Block 326B Sumang Walk in Punggol, according to a Facebook post by Luni Singapore, a non-profit animal welfare organisation, on Tuesday (May 13).  The animal subsequently died, despite being given immediate veterinary assistance.  This comes days after another community cat was found disemboweled, with its eyes gouged out in Yishun. In a Facebook post on May 9, Minister for Law and Home Affairs K. Shanmugam condemned the act, calling it «appalling cruelty.»  According to Luni Singapore, the Punggol incident is believed to have occurred on May 11 or May 12. According to the group, the cat —  named Shere Khan — was a gentle and well-loved community cat, known for his sweet and trusting nature.

SINGAPORE — Nearly a quarter-century after he took off his surgical scrubs to don party whites, Dr Ng Eng Hen still looks at issues — including Singapore's survival — with an oncologist's trained eye. «Basically, when you are presented with a problem, you ask: What is the root cause?» he said. «Rather than trying to get at the symptoms, what is the core diagnosis?» Dr Ng had been asked how Singapore can stay secure and relevant in a more uncertain world. The answer always has to come from asking itself what its place in geography and history is, he said. «Some people wish the world to be friendlier, protect small countries, to find space for all countries, but that is not the reality,» the 66-year-old said in his farewell interview with local media at the Ministry of Defence on May 13. «For Singapore, I would say the starting point is we take the world as it is — not as we wish it to be, no matter how much we wish it to be,» added Dr Ng, who has helmed the defence portfolio since 2011 and was first elected as an MP in 2001.

Singapore's cricket fraternity mourned former national cricketer and coach Arjun Menon who was «brutally murdered» on Saturday (May 10) night at his residence in Malawi, Africa. On Monday (May 12), Singapore Cricket Association (SCA) members held a minute of silence in his memory before the start of the national league matches. «His legacy lives on in the players he shaped and the communities he uplifted across continents,» the association said in an earlier Facebook post on Sunday. In the same post, SCA expressed “profound sadness” at his passing.

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) raided the home of a 13-year-old girl after she was caught behaving erratically and vaping outside the State Courts. According to a statement by HSA on Tuesday (May 13), she was vaping publicly and appeared «unsteady in gait» outside the courts on April 24. After she was identified, the authority raided her house and seized one e-vaporiser. Further testing revealed that the e-vaporiser contains etomidate — a controlled substance used in clinical practice as an anaesthetic agent. Adverse effects of etomidate include nausea and vomiting, uncontrollable movement or spasm of muscles, changes to breathing and blood pressure, seizures and psychosis. HSA subsequently identified and caught the 25-year-old male who sold the e-vaporiser to the teenager, seizing one e-vaporiser and three pods containing etomidate from his possession. The man, his 26-year-old wife, and the teenager are currently assisting with HSA's investigation. In a separate incident, the authority identified a 36-year-old man who was filmed vaping on an MRT train on April 18.

Covid-19 infections have increased recently, but there is no indication that the variants circulating locally are more transmissible or cause more severe disease, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said. In a joint statement on Tuesday (May 13), the authorities said there were 14,200 cases from April 27 to May 3, compared to 11,100 cases in the previous week. Over the same period, the average daily Covid-19 hospitalisations rose from 102 to 133, while the average daily Intensive Care Unit cases decreased from three to two cases. The statement said that hospitals are currently able to manage the increase in cases. It added that periodic Covid-19 waves are expected throughout the year and the rise in cases could stem from various factors, including lowered population immunity. Vaccination and precautionary measures The statement recommended individuals aged 60 years and above, medically vulnerable or residing in aged care facilities to receive an additional vaccination dose around a year after their last dose.

Singapore's cricket fraternity mourned former national cricketer and coach Arjun Menon who was «brutally murdered» on Saturday (May 10) night at his residence in Malawi, Africa. On Monday (May 12), Singapore Cricket Association (SCA) members held a minute of silence in his memory before the start of the national league matches. «His legacy lives on in the players he shaped and the communities he uplifted across continents,» the association said in an earlier Facebook post on Sunday. In the same post, SCA expressed “profound sadness” at his passing.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced on Tuesday (May 13) that as part of the government's ongoing efforts to support daily expenses, all Singaporeans households can now redeem and use $500 worth of Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers.  PM Wong — who is also the Minister for Finance —had shared during Budget 2025 in February that all Singaporean households will receive $800 in CDC vouchers to help with the cost of living. The vouchers will be distributed in two tranches, $500 in May 2025 and $300 in January 2026. For the May tranche, as with previous rounds, $250 will be allocated for spending at participating hawkers and heartland merchants, and $250 for use at participating supermarkets. Speaking at the launch of the seventh tranche of the CDC voucher scheme at Nee Soon South Community Club today (May 13), PM Wong said that this is «not a one-off exercise,» and that the Government will «continue to provide help for as long as it is needed», reported The Straits Times.

A Good Class Bungalow (GCB) site in the Caldecott Hill Estate is set to be purchased for $58 million by the sons of Koufu Group founders Pang Lim and Ng Hoon Tien, reported The Business Times. The freehold site located at Joan Road occupies 39,276 sq ft of land and costs $1,477 psf. There are two bungalows occupying the regular-shaped plot within the prestigious Caldecott Hill enclave in District 11, which is one of 39 gazetted GCB areas in Singapore. The property was initially purchased in the 1960s by Chan Kok Kwan, the former president of the Diamond Importers Association of Singapore, and housed three generations of the Chan family. It was recently rebuilt around 2000, with one of the two-storey bungalows being occupied by the Chan family. The second bungalow, which also features an attic and a swimming pool, is tenanted, according to a release in April 2024 by real estate company Cushman & Wakefield. The GCB site had been marketed through an expression of interest exercise in May 2024 by the firm at an indicative price of $62.8 million ($1,599 psf).

The Workers' Party (WP) Punggol team will continue their groundwork and outreach initiatives, Harpreet Singh Nehal said in a Facebook post on Friday (May 9). The 59-year-old senior counsel also responded to a comment that said he probably has one general election left in him due to his age.  «I'm sorry, but you don't know me, bro,» Singh said, adding that he is in good health. «Let's just say — you're not getting rid of me that easily.» In the recent election, Singh contested Punggol GRC with WP teammates Alia Mattar, Jackson Au and Alexis Dang, earning 44.83 per cent of total votes. They lost to the People's Action Party (PAP) team consisting Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, Senior Minister of State for Health and Digital Development and Information Janil Puthucheary, Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development Sun Xueling as well as Yeo Wan Ling, who garnered 55.17 per cent of votes. Singh said in his Facebook post that the response in Punggol and throughout Singapore has been «overwhelming», with his team being told to «come back» and «continue the fight».

An outing to Sentosa turned awry for a young girl vacationing in Singapore, after she purportedly sustained a cut on her feet while playing in the pool of a beach club. The incident occurred on the afternoon of May 4 at Ola Beach Club, said the child's mother in a Xiaohongshu post on May 8. The two are reportedly from Shanghai.  In her post, the user wrote she had discovered her daughter's toe was bleeding fiercely after the girl suddenly voiced that she was in pain. A photo attached to the post show that the girl had cut her little toe. The mum didn't reveal the age of her child. The mother noted that a restaurant server and chef stepped forward after she asked for help. The club then called a medic, who administered first aid and advised the girl to visit a hospital as the cut was «very deep». According to the woman, the restaurant manager had said then he could not promise any compensation but would inform the management. She was also given a business card and asked to email them for follow-ups.

Three men were arrested on Sunday (May 11) for their suspected involvement in three cases of housebreaking and theft at three residential units in the Bukit Timah vicinity. The Singapore Police Force stated the same day that they were alerted to three cases along Cluny Park, Dunearn Close and Neo Avenue between May 9 and 10. The three individuals apprehended are a Spanish-Colombian national, 60; a Mexican national, 51; and a Mexican-Colombian national, 48. Through ground enquiries and the aid of CCTVs and police cameras, the police were able to identify the suspects and arrested the three men within 27 hours of the first case being reported. Two of them were nabbed along Jalan Kubor while the other was arrested at Tyrwhitt Road.

SINGAPORE — While veteran Singaporean artist Koeh Sia Yong was away in Indonesia for nearly two months earlier in 2025, his bedroom drawers back home were emptied of more than $50,000 in valuables. The 87-year-old returned to his two-bedroom unit at The Interlace condo in Depot Road on March 15 to find his home had been broken into. «When I stepped into my apartment, I saw my master bedroom door, which I had locked, was open,» Koeh told The Straits Times in Mandarin. «My room was ransacked, the wardrobe drawers were pulled out, and my clothes were scattered everywhere.» The kitchen window had been prised open and the intercom unit inside his apartment removed. He phoned his daughter, who called the police. A police forensics team was deployed and spent several hours collecting fingerprints and other evidence from the unit. The police said investigations are ongoing. Koeh, a second-generation Nanyang artist whose works have been exhibited across Asia, had left Singapore on Jan 20 for his annual trip to Bali. This time, however, the visit was especially meaningful — he was there to set up an art gallery.

SINGAPORE - In clinching the Taipei Open crown on Sunday (May 11), Loh Kean Yew bagged his 10th career badminton title as he became the first Singaporean to win at this tournament. But more importantly, he looks to have rediscovered his killer instinct as he beat home favourite and world No. 7 Chou Tien-chen 21-14, 15-21, 22-20 in the men's singles final of the US$240,000 (S$312,000) event for his first title since winning the Spain Masters in March 2024, four months before he became a father. The 27-year-old told The Straits Times: «I have been in training and on the tour a lot, and I don't get to spend a lot of time with my wife and baby. I'm really glad to win this title. It feels like my hard work and sacrifices are worth it. »We are certainly moving in the right direction, so hopefully we will keep doing well." Throughout the Taipei Open, world No. 11 Loh showed his mental fortitude to come back from deficits to beat Hong Kong's Chan Yin Chak (105th), Finland's Joakim Oldorff (52nd), Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul (49th) of Thailand and Taiwanese Wang Tzu-wei (26th) in the earlier rounds.

A 27-year-old man has been arrested for his suspected involvement in a government official impersonation scam which extorted over $40,000. In a media release on Saturday (May 10), the police said that they were alerted to the scam by the victim, a 20-year-old man, at about 11.50am on April 9. The alleged scammers posing as China government officials, claimed the victim's identity had been misused in China and he was implicated in a transnational money-laundering syndicate as a result, said the police. Officers from the Anti-Scam Command (ASCom) and Clementi Police Division identified the 27-year-old suspect — who allegedly assisted the scammers to collect money from the victim — and arrested him on the same day. Preliminary investigations showed he was a victim of the same type of scam, and had been manipulated into collecting money from other victims under the guise of assisting with official investigations, according to the police. The 27-year-old suspect is being investigated for offences involving cheating and cheating by personation.

Japanese character Godzilla was «spotted» at a location all too familiar to Singaporeans in a video tribute for South-east Asian fans of the franchise. In the 55-second clip titled 70 Years of Godzilla: A New Roar in Southeast Asia, the fictional monster can be seen emerging from the waters of Marina Bay with Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Flyer in the background. The video, which was posted to the official Godzilla YouTube channel on Saturday (May 10), also shows the behemoth in various other locations across South-east Asia such as the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur and famous terraced paddy fields of Bali. Japanese entertainment company Toho, which owns the Godzilla brand, released the video in celebration of the first Godzilla film's 70th anniversary which premiered in October 1954. Godzilla was created after World War II and is a symbolic figure that represents the destructive power of nuclear weapons as well as the threat they pose to humanity and the environment.

A man was arrested for suspected drug offences and causing minor injuries to two police officers in Bugis. A video made its rounds Friday (May 9) on Xiaohongshu, showing the scene at Cheng Yan Place outside Bugis+. A red car can be seen on the street with two police officers and a man in a grey shirt, seemingly a civilian, apprehending another man in a black t-shirt in front of the vehicle. Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said that officers found a car parked haphazardly along the road during their patrols at around 10.55am and conducted a check, where they discovered suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia. «During the arrest, the male car driver put up a struggle but he was eventually subdued by officers and with the assistance of a member of the public,» the statement continued. «Two police officers sustained minor injuries while effecting the arrest.» The driver of the car, 30, was conveyed conscious to the hospital and then arrested for voluntarily causing hurt against a public servant and for suspected drug-related offences.

The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) will continue their groundwork and return at the next election, said its founder Tan Cheng Bock. The PSP team for West Coast-Jurong West GRC — featuring Dr Tan, Leong Mun Wai, Hazel Poa, Sani Ismail and Sumarleki Amjah — made their rounds and greeted supporters and residents at West Coast Market on Saturday (May 10) morning, a week after the General Election (GE2025).  «We are not running away. We'll be back soon,» said Dr Tan. Despite the loss, he said that it was a good journey, having given the younger members a chance to experience «what it is like to fight in the election, with all the odds against you». The PSP failed to emerge victorious during the rematch in West Coast-Jurong West GRC against the People’s Action Party (PAP) on May 3. The PAP slate, led by Minister for National Development Desmond Lee, received 60.01 per cent of votes over the PSP who lagged behind with 39.99 per cent of votes.

A motorcyclist died after crashing into a metal barrier that had broken off from a road divider when a car allegedly made an illegal U-turn on the Second Link Highway, in Johor, Malaysia. The incident, which took place on the evening of May 9, occurred after the Singapore-registered car smashed into the barrier while making the U-turn at an opening in the road divider. In the process, the red Maserati dislodged a section of the barrier, reported Malaysian daily New Straits Times (NST) on May 10. According to dashcam footage of the crash, which has since gone viral on social media, the car ended in the leftmost lane in the opposite direction, towards Singapore. Moments later, a motorcyclist was seen colliding with the debris According to the NST report, the motorcyclist died on the spot from severe head injuries. Several other motorcyclists also fell after hitting the debris but did not appear seriously injured.

Five former schools in the east that have moved or been merged with other schools are set to be replaced by new homes. Proposed amendments to the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) masterplan that were published on April 24 and May 7 showed that land occupied by the five schools have been earmarked for new homes. They are the former Bedok Town Secondary, Temasek Primary and Temasek Secondary in Bedok, Qiaonan Primary in Tampines and Siglap Secondary in Pasir Ris. The HDB is in the midst of demolishing three of the schools, and has permission from the URA to tear down the remaining two. Other proposed amendments to the URA Master Plan 2019 – a statutory document – showed that new homes are being planned in areas such as Sin Ming and Toa Payoh. One of the proposed amendments is to rezone a site near Bedok MRT station from educational to residential use. The site, at the intersection of New Upper Changi Road and Bedok South Road, was formerly occupied by Temasek Primary and Secondary schools. Both schools have moved to other sites in Bedok South and Upper East Coast.

[UPDATE May 9, 5.21pm]  In another Facebook post, the SCDF said that the blaze has been largely extinguished. They added that efforts to douse the remaining deep-seated pockets of fire through damping down are expected to continue into the night. A fire broke out in a two-storey industrial building in Tampines on Friday (May 9), forcing staff and students from a nearby school to evacuate.  Taking to Facebook, the Singapore Civil Defence Force said that they were alerted to the fire involving textile items in 18 Tampines Street 92 at around 12.50pm. «SCDF is fighting the fire with five water jets, an aerial monitor from a combined platform ladder, and an unmanned firefighting machine,» they said. «The fire is under control, but the structure of the premises is assessed to be unstable.»  SCDF said that a person from the affected premises was assessed by a paramedic for a minor cut on his arm, but declined to be sent to the hospital. According to a Google search, two companies are listed under this address: furnishing retailer T.C. Homeplus and bedding store Jean Perry.SG.

As AsiaOne's resident motoring correspondent, I do spend quite a lot of time on the roads. One of the things about driving in Singapore though is having to watch out for the infamous 'cop on top' - traffic policemen stationed at overhead bridges with their laser cameras, ready to nab speedsters. Of course, as a law-abiding citizen, I probably shouldn't have much to worry about. But it's always wise to keep a lookout anyway just to make sure I don't fall afoul of the law. What is it like on the other side of the fence though? Well, the Traffic Police (TP) invited us to follow them on one of their speeding enforcement operations exercise this week to find out what goes on when they head out to catch speeding vehicles.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore and congregants celebrated the election of Pope Leo XIV early on May 9 (12.06am SGT). This pontiff, who succeeds Pope Francis, will be the first American to lead the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.  «The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore gives thanks to almighty God for blessing us with a new Vicar of Christ,» it said in a statement on Friday (May 9). The statement said that Pope Leo XIV was chosen to be the 267th Pope by 133 cardinal electors on Thursday (May 8) at 6.06 pm Rome time. «We rejoice at the election of Pope Leo XIV as the successor of Saint Peter and Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church. »The Roman Catholic Archdiocese unites with the universal church in praying for the Holy Father as he begins his Apostolic ministry,« it added. Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong posted an Instagram story early on Friday morning of the newly elected pope waving to the crowds. He captioned the story: »His Holiness Pope Leo XIV".

An elderly man who lost contact with family members for six days has been found on the roof of a newly-constructed flat in Bidadari. Lau Sung Pong, 81, was reported missing on May 1 after he failed to return home. In an interview with AsiaOne, 55-year-old Joyce said that her father, Lau, who has dementia but had been advised by doctors to maintain his daily routine, accidentally got off the bus two stops later than intended. «He's generally strong and healthy, though his kidneys are not in the best condition due to his age,» said Joyce, who asked not to be identified by her full name. She is her father's primary caregiver. After spending two hours searching for Lau on foot and car without success, Joyce contacted the police. Together with several family members, the police combed through the Bidadari and Woodleigh area to find the elderly man.

After his son was slapped in a road rage incident, this father isn't too keen on turning the other cheek. The father is now seeking an apology from a man who struck his 13-year-old son after the two — on bicycles — collided with each other at a traffic junction in Tampines, Shin Min Daily News reported on Thursday (May 8). The teenager was attempting to cross a traffic junction along Tampines Ave 7 and 12 last Friday (May 2) around 5.45pm, according to a video post of the incident uploaded to SG Road Vigilante's Facebook page the following day. Mid-crossing, the teen appeared to struggle with the bicycle and didn't seem to notice the oncoming adult cyclist approaching from the opposite end of the junction. While the adult cyclist managed to stop in time, the teenager did not and jerkily moved forward, colliding with the man. In response, the man abruptly slapped the teen, causing both of them to stumble briefly before they continued on their paths. Speaking with Shin Min, the teenager's father, surnamed Qiu (transliteration), shared on Wednesday that his son had cycled away because the crossing light was turning red.

Two people have been arrested after a video of a man getting violently attacked went viral, according to the police on Wednesday (May 7). A 31-year-old man and 35-year-old woman were arrested for their alleged involvement in a case of voluntarily causing grievous hurt with common intention and suspected drug consumption. In the 49-second video posted on Facebook on Tuesday, the victim can be seen handing over a plastic bag to a man in what appears to be a transaction. After a few words were exchanged, the victim then appears to return the man his banknote while tapping on his phone. However, the man receiving the handoff suddenly delivers an uppercut to the victim, sending the latter's glasses flying. The man follows this up with a flurry of blows, causing the victim to reel backwards and collapse on the ground, as punches continue to rain down upon him. As the victim tries to right himself, the attacker kicks him in the head, knocking him back against the wall. The victim's bloodied face and hands and face are shown as the video ends.

The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has signed a contract with Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems to acquire two more Invincible-class submarines, growing its fleet to six from 2034 onwards.  The procurement of two additional submarines was previously announced by Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen at the Committee of Supply 2025 debate in Parliament on March 3.  «Four submarines are not optimal for a submarine fleet,» said Dr Ng. He explained that submarines are subjected to more rigorous and frequent maintenance cycles as they operate under intense pressure. This is in turn affects operational time. «This is why most navies that operate submarines have more than four — Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam», added Dr Ng.  The Republic of Singapore Navy started building four custom-made Invincible-class submarines, in Germany, in 2017. Two of the four existing submarines, the RSS Invincible and RSS Impeccable, were commissioned in September 2024 and have begun operations in Singapore waters. 

SINGAPORE — Cardinal William Goh is one of 133 cardinals from about 70 countries — and the first Singaporean — choosing the new pope in the papal election that starts on May 7 at the Vatican. The 67-year-old head of the Catholic Church in Singapore also has a shot at becoming the next pope, like the other cardinals gathered in Rome to pick the leader for the 1.4 billion Catholics globally. Cardinals are second in rank only to the pope in the Church's hierarchy. After the pope dies, all cardinals under the age of 80, who are known as cardinal electors, come together to choose the new pope. They typically choose someone from among their ranks. Pope Francis, who died on April 21, elevated Cardinal Goh to a cardinal in 2022. Cardinal Goh is the first and only Singaporean to be appointed a cardinal so far, and he heads the 395,000-strong Catholic Church here. One of six children of a housewife and a clerk, Cardinal Goh grew up in a zinc-roofed house in Hougang and later worked as a forex dealer before he answered the call of priesthood. He was ordained as a priest in 1985 at the age of 27.

SINGAPORE - Seven years ago, a foreigner molested a woman at Serangoon MRT station and left Singapore without being apprehended. But Zhang Yang, 34, was arrested upon re-entering the Republic in March. The Chinese national was sentenced to three weeks' jail on May 7 after he admitted to one count of outrage of modesty. A second similar charge was taken into consideration for sentencing. The offence happened on Aug 22, 2018. Zhang, a construction worker at the time, did not know the 21-year-old victim. She was at Serangoon MRT station, intending to travel to Little India. As she walked towards one end of the platform while waiting for the train, Zhang walked towards her and brushed his arm against her shorts. After they crossed paths, he turned and walked back towards her. She immediately moved to an area where more people were standing as she was afraid he would touch her again. But Zhang followed closely behind her and molested her a second time. Deputy Public Prosecutor Jordy Kay said: «This occurred less than a minute after the first incident. The victim was shocked and felt scared.»

SINGAPORE - Seven years ago, a foreigner molested a woman at Serangoon MRT station and left Singapore without being apprehended. But Zhang Yang, 34, was arrested upon re-entering the Republic in March. The Chinese national was sentenced to three weeks' jail on May 7 after he admitted to one count of outrage of modesty. A second similar charge was taken into consideration for sentencing. The offence happened on Aug 22, 2018. Zhang, a construction worker at the time, did not know the 21-year-old victim. She was at Serangoon MRT station, intending to travel to Little India. As she walked towards one end of the platform while waiting for the train, Zhang walked towards her and brushed his arm against her shorts. After they crossed paths, he turned and walked back towards her. She immediately moved to an area where more people were standing as she was afraid he would touch her again. But Zhang followed closely behind her and molested her a second time. Deputy Public Prosecutor Jordy Kay said: «This occurred less than a minute after the first incident. The victim was shocked and felt scared.»

An 18-year-old Chinese national studying in Singapore was allegedly kidnapped in Kuala Lumpur, with a ransom of $628,381 demanded from his parents. The teenager's parents had received videos on Friday (May 2) at around 11.44am showing their son being held hostage, reported China Press.  At the time, his mother, surnamed Cheng, 40, and father, surnamed Ye, 43, were in Dubai for work.  Cheng explained that in the videos sent to her, her son's mouth was sealed with black tape, his hands tied to a chair, while being physically abused. At one point, when the tape was removed, the boy would plead for help over the phone, urging his family to pay the ransom quickly.  The perpetrators also reportedly threatened to bury him alive. The family noted that the videos featured at least two distinct voices, indicating that more than one person was involved in the staged abduction. One video even included fake blood to make the scenario appear more convincing. The couple immediately flew to Malaysia after receiving the news.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong expressed his gratitude to Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean and Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat for their contributions to Singapore as they retire from politics after the recent general election. In a Facebook post on Tuesday (May 6), PM Wong expressed his gratitude to the «two giants of public service», thanking them for their «immense contributions to Singapore and Singaporeans». He also shared valedictory letters he had written to SM Teo and DPM Heng in his post. «Their decades of service have helped build the strong foundations that my team and I now stand on, as we chart the way forward for Singapore,» said PM Wong. 

SINGAPORE - The two independent candidates who contested the May 3 election intend to use their new-found platforms to engage with Singaporeans on local and national issues, even though neither was elected. Mountbatten candidate Jeremy Tan, 34, told The Straits Times on May 5 that he has not ruled out contesting the next general election. Mr Darryl Lo, 28, who contested in Radin Mas, was coy about his plans, saying he was unsure if he would continue being involved in politics. Political observers said the pair - part of an «evolving profile» of political independents - had polled better than expected, and were able to put their views across coherently during their campaigns. They also noted that Mr Tan and Mr Lo performed better at the ballot box than some candidates from small opposition parties fielded in single seats. Mr Tan, a retired business owner, ran against maritime lawyer Gho Sze Kee from the ruling PAP in Mountbatten. Both are political newcomers.